Page 168 of Quinlan

And trust. Love doesn’t mean a damn thing without trust.

“Let me get this straight.” I stand up, picking her up with me. She gasps when I throw her over my shoulder and start walking.

“Rome!”

Quinlan’s so small compared to me that her kicks and punches are just…sweet.

“Rome!”

I sit down on the nearest gym bench. Manhandle her until she’s lying with her stomach pinned to my lap and her ass held high up.

“What are you doing?”

The first time my open palm connects to her butt makes her scream.

Makes my cock hard. My pulse jackhammers. Not like I’m going to do anything about it.

I’ll fuck her another day. When I’m in control of myself.

Right now, I’m way too raw. Way too…

Fuck that. Vulnerable isn’t the word.

“What was that for? Rome, answer—”

Smack. Smack. Smack.

“I thought I told you how I feel about snooping.”Smack.“And yet here you are. Came all the way down here instead of going to bed like a good girl. Trying to dig out my secrets.”

“Rome, listen—”

Smack.

“I’m close, aren’t I?”

“Please, if you could listen—”

Smack. Smack. Smack.

I wish I could see her ass reddening. But if someone other than Liam and Rome walked in here and had a glimpse of what’s mine…

“Tell me why I’m here and I won’t pry.” She’s thrashing in my hold, hating it that I’m stronger. That I have a hand around the back of her neck, holding her in place. “Damn it, Rome.”

Tough shit.

Smack. Smack. Smack.

I go hard on her. I’m mad at the world. I love watching her squirm.

The tortured sounds coming from Quinlan are almost as sweet as my own pain.

“Tell. Me. Please.” She pushes against me, and the pressure on my cock is good. So fucking good. “Rome, please.”

Her resilience is such a beautiful thing. I’m dying to capture it in my palm. Tuck it into my pocket. Jack off to it whenever she’s not around.

She’ll always be around.

“Stop,” she begs and, fuck, that’s beautiful too. Her thick locks hide her face, and still, there’s no denying how beautiful everything about her is. “Please, tell me. Stop, this distance, this wall. I can’t take it.”

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